The Lakers sailed through the regular season and the first three rounds of the playoffs without needing to flex their muscles to win. Oh, the Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz pushed them around a bit near the basket during the first two rounds of the playoffs, but that was a mere warmup for the way the Boston Celtics manhandled them in the Finals. Bynum, the man who could have made a difference sat on the bench in street clothes, grimacing with each and everyBoston layup or dunk. Now he’s back after a season-ending left kneecap injury and the Lakers believe they are bigger and better than ever near the basket.

2. Can Kobe Bryant repeat as the league’s MVP?

Conventional wisdom suggests Bryant’s scoring average will tumble again this season since the Lakers have more offensive weapons and more reasons to use them. Bryant averaged 28.3 points last season, down from 31.6 the season before, which was down from 35.4 the season before that one. He won his first league MVP award largely because of his willingness to get his teammates more involved. Bryant showed last season that the Lakers are no longer a one-man team, but he must keep his teammates engaged in order for the Lakers to play at their best. Continued trust of his teammates will make them all the more productive.

3. Can Lamar Odom thrive as a sixth man?

Odom has started 573 of 587 games in his nine-year NBA career with the Lakers, Miami Heat and the Clippers. Now, he’s been asked to become a reserve. He bristled initially, wondering publicly whether Lakers coach Phil Jackson had “bumped his (freaking) head or something.” Odom has since embraced the idea of coming into games off the bench. In fact, he has adopted a leadership role on the second unit, the so-called Bench Mob. He seemed to enjoy the faster pace favored by energetic point guard Jordan Farmar and athletic forward Trevor Ariza. Oh, and did we mention he might play a good bit of point guard, too?

4. Will the bench deliver as it did last season?

There was no question last season that the Bench Mob’s goal in each and every game was to seize the momentum and throw the opposition into a tailspin. Ariza, Farmar, Ronny Turiaf, Sasha Vujacic, Luke Walton and assorted others often worked over the other team’s second unit last season. Jackson said he can’t imagine how this season’s second unit could be more productive than last season’s. Turiaf left the Lakers during the offseason, signing with the Golden State Warriors as a free agent. Josh Powell, a bruising forward, appears ready to step into Turiaf’s role as the second unit’s enforcer. 5. Can Phil Jackson win a record 10th NBA title as a coach?

Jackson remained tied with the late Red Auerbach for the most league championships in history after the Lakers’ loss to the Celtics in June. There are reasons to believe the Lakers and Celtics will be back for another tango next spring, and with it brings a chance for Jackson to break his tie with Auerbach, the legendary Celtics coach and executive. Jackson has refused to stand pat after last season’s loss to Boston, moving pieces around the chessboard in an attempt to make the Lakers stronger than in 2007-08. Pairing Bynum and Gasol was a no-brainer, but moving Odom to a reserve role could be a genius move.